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2021 Mazda 3 Owners Manual - Transaxle Ranges



Owner’s Manuals 2021 Transaxle Ranges

Transaxle Ranges

  • The shift position indicator light in the instrument cluster illuminates.
  • The selector lever must be in P or N to operate the starter.
P (Park) P locks the transaxle and prevents the front wheels from rotating.
 
Always set the selector lever to P and set the parking brake: Only setting the selector lever to the P position without using the parking brake to hold the vehicle is dangerous. If P fails to hold, the vehicle could move and cause an accident.
 
  • Shifting into P, N or R while the vehicle is moving can damage your transaxle.
  • Shifting into a driving gear or reverse when the engine is running faster than idle can damage the transaxle.
R (Reverse) In position R, the vehicle moves only backward. You must be at a complete stop before shifting to or from R, except under rare circumstances as explained in Rocking the Vehicle.
 
(With parking sensor system) When the selector lever is shifted to the R position with the ignition switched ON, the parking sensor system is activated and a beep sound is heard.
N (Neutral) In N, the wheels and transaxle are not locked. The vehicle will roll freely even on the slightest incline unless the parking brake or brakes are on.
 
If the engine is running faster than idle, do not shift from N or P into a driving gear: It's dangerous to shift from N or P into a driving gear when the engine is running faster than idle. If this is done, the vehicle could move suddenly, causing an accident or serious injury. Do not shift into N when driving the vehicle: Shifting into N while driving is dangerous. Engine braking cannot be applied when decelerating which could lead to an accident or serious injury.
 
Do not shift into N when driving the vehicle. Doing so can cause transaxle damage.
 
Apply the parking brake or depress the brake pedal before moving the selector lever from N to prevent the vehicle from moving unexpectedly.
D (Drive) D is the normal driving position. From a stop, the transaxle will automatically shift through a 4-gear (4-speed transaxle model)/6-gear (6-speed transaxle model) sequence. M (Manual) M is the manual shift mode position. Gears can be shifted up or down by operating the selector lever.

Shift Position Indication


The selector position is indicated when the ignition is switched ON. Gear position indication In manual shift mode, the “M” of the shift position indication illuminates and the numeral for the selected gear is displayed.

Active Adaptive Shift (AAS) (Some Models)

Active Adaptive Shift (AAS) automatically controls the transaxle shift points to best suit the road conditions and driver input. This improves driving feel. The transaxle may switch to AAS mode when driving up and down slopes, cornering, driving at high elevations, or depressing the accelerator pedal quickly while the selector lever is in the D position. Depending on the road and driving conditions/vehicle operations, gear shifting could be delayed or not occur, however, this does not indicate a problem because the AAS mode will maintain the optimum gear position.
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